Rain that ruins

Rs 75 cr loss plunges 25 per cent vegetable production in Kashmir

BILAL HUSSAIN

Incessant rains, abnormal dip in temperature has resulted in colossal losses of Rs 75crores in vegetable production in Kashmir. Unusual climate is expected to take heavy toll on farmers and is anticipated to plunge 25 per cent vegetable production, experts in the field say.
Excess of everything is bad and same is the case with rain in the valley these days. “For the better crop production rainfall is needed but too much of rain ruins the harvest,” said Division of Seed Certification Officer, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi. In the optimum level rainwater raises the agriculture production. However, it has negative impact on vegetable produce when in excess, he adds.
According to Andrabi this time due to persistent rains and subsequent low temperature has upshot the production loss here. “For the paddy production more than 25 Degree Celsius is required and at present minimum temperature during nights dips to 14 Degree Celsius, which results in delayed crop maturity,” said an agriculturist.
To further worsen the matter there is lack of modern seed processing plant facilities for the processing of huge quantities of seeds for timely distribution. “Non-availability of disease resistant/ climate resistant high yielding varieties of crops deteriorates the situation,” an agriculturist laments.
He added that non-availability of hybrid rice varieties suited for Kashmir conditions should be made available. “SKUAST-K must evolve and release high yielding / hybrid varieties of major crops and it should become a regular feature with the institution,” he stresses.
At present the total production in the Valley is around 7.5 lakh metric tonnes. According to the Indian Counsel of Medical Research, Valley needs 11 lakh metric tonnes annually. "That means we have an annual deficit of 3.5 lakh metric tonnes, which is equivalent to 47 per cent," said an expert.
Andrabi told Kashmir Times that due to incessant rains there would be over 25 per cent loss in the vegetable crop production, which equals 1.875 lakh metric tones. “On an average vegetable are sold at Rs 4 per kg and the loss comes out to be Rs 75 crores,” he adds.
However, experts say there has not been much improvement in the production by introduction of new varieties of vegetable seeds. Experts say even as the tomato Shalimar that is claimed to yield 47 quintals per hectare, is giving just a yield of 25 quintals. Similarly in case of brinjal the research yield is 47 quintals per hectare but on ground farmers get 23 quintals; capsicum yields 36 quintals per hectare as per research but farmers get 17 quintals; cucumber yields 63 quintals per hectare on papers, in practice the yield is as low as 28 quintals.
The falling production of vegetable in Kashmir, experts say, is due to the fast conversion of the fertile land into concrete jungle.
He said areas like Rajbagh, Barzulla, Bemina, Khanyar and now Budgam which were once supplying vegetables to whole of the Valley, are now densely populated and there are no more vegetable fields in these areas.
Experts say this is a sheer lack of policy and planning on the part of the government agencies which has allowed the fertile lands to transform into concrete jungles.
An agriculturist sights use of chemical manure as another reason for low production of vegetables. "Use of chemical manure instead of green-bio manure has affected the crop production to a large extent," he said.
"There should be stress on the indigenous innovations wherein local vegetation like Nunar, Kraili-muj, Abuj and many more should be grown on large scale," he said, adding that these indigenous vegetables require less water as compared to the other variety of crops.